In Train Simulator Classic, the Gotthardbahn Alpine Classic is a definitive recreation of one of the most engineered stretches of railway in the world. Developed by Rivet Games, this 110 km (68-mile) expansion focuses on the historic mountain pass as it operated before the 2016 opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel rendered the steep, winding mountain route a secondary line.
📍 The Route: The “King of Mountain Railways”
The route covers the spectacular ascent and descent between Erstfeld and Bellinzona, challenging drivers with extreme gradients and world-famous engineering landmarks.
- Spiral Tunnels & Loops: To gain elevation without exceeding the ruling gradient, the line utilizes legendary spiral tunnels at Wassen (North) and Giornico (South), where the track effectively loops inside the mountain to gain height.
- The Historic Gotthard Tunnel: Includes the original 15 km (9-mile) tunnel at the summit, which sat as the world’s longest rail tunnel upon its completion in 1882.
- Geographic Scope: Meticulously recreates 15 stations and the vast transition from the German-speaking North side of the Alps to the Italian-influenced architecture of Ticino in the South.
🚆 Rolling Stock: Modern Swiss Precision
The add-on features SBB’s primary motive power for the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
- SBB Re 460: The sleek “Lok 2000.”
- Technical Features: Includes functional wing mirrors, a moving exterior driver character, and detailed cab controls.
- Safety Systems: Fully simulated Swiss safety protocols, including Integra-Signum and the ZUB cabin display, which drivers must monitor to avoid emergency brake interventions on the steep descents.
- EWIV Passenger Coaches: Includes A (First Class), B (Second Class), and Bt Driving Trailer variants. The Bt coach allows for authentic “Push-Pull” operations, enabling you to drive the train from the coach end with the Re 460 pushing from the rear.
- Res Flat Wagons: Provided in both empty and concrete-barrier-loaded configurations for freight duties.
🕹️ Gameplay & Scenarios
The route emphasizes the technical difficulty of mountain driving, where managing speed and braking on a 2.6% gradient is a constant task.
- Core Scenarios: Includes 7 Career scenarios, beginning with a comprehensive tutorial for the Re 460 and moving into heavy winter express runs and regional “InterRegio” services.
- Gotthardbahn Scenario Pack 01: A separate marketplace expansion that adds 5 additional scenarios (plus enhanced versions featuring the SBB RABe 523 EMU) for players looking for more diverse traffic and shunting challenges.
🛒 Winter 2025 Pricing & Access
As of December 28, 2025, the Gotthardbahn Alpine Classic is a centerpiece of the Steam Winter Sale.
| Item | Standard Price | Sale Price (Dec 2025) |
| Gotthardbahn Alpine Classic | $39.99 | $9.99 (75% Off) |
| Gotthardbahn Scenario Pack 01 | $9.99 | $2.99 (70% Off) |
Technical Tip: Given the density of the Alpine scenery and the complexity of the safety scripts, it is highly recommended to run this route using the 64-bit version of Train Simulator Classic 2025 with at least 16GB of RAM to ensure stability through the long tunnel sections.
